Mokjong of Goryeo

7th King of Goryeo (r. 997–1009)

Mokjong of Goryeo
고려 목종
高麗穆宗

King of Goryeo

Reign

997 – 2 March 1009

Coronation

997
Gaegyeong, Goryeo

Predecessor

Seongjong of Goryeo

Successor

Hyeonjong of Goryeo

Born

Wang Song
5 July 980
Gaegyeong, Goryeo

Died

2 March 1009 (aged 28)
Jeokseong-hyeon, Gaeseong-bu, Gaegyeong, Goryeo

Burial

Gongneung (공릉, 恭陵) → Uireung (의릉, 義陵)

Queen Consort

Queen Seonjeong

Concubine

Lady Yoseok

Posthumous name
Great King Hyosa Wihye Geukyeong Jeonggong Seonyang 효사위혜극영정공선양대왕 (孝思威惠克英定恭宣讓大王)
Temple name
Minjong (민종, 愍宗) → Mokjong (목종, 穆宗)

House

Wang

Dynasty

Goryeo

Father

Gyeongjong of Goryeo

Mother

Queen Heonae

Birth name
Korean name
Hangul	목종
Hanja	穆宗
Revised Romanization	Mokjong
McCune–Reischauer	Mokchong
Hangul	왕송
Hanja	王訟
Revised Romanization	Wang Song
McCune–Reischauer	Wang Song
Courtesy name
Hangul	효신
Hanja	孝伸
Revised Romanization	Hyosin
McCune–Reischauer	Hyosin
Posthumous name
Hangul	선양대왕
Hanja	宣讓大王
Revised Romanization	Seonyang Daewang
McCune–Reischauer	Sŏnyang Taewang

Mokjong of Goryeo (5 July 980 – 2 March 1009), personal name Wang Song, was the seventh ruler of the Goryeo dynasty of Korea.

Reign

Born as Wang Song, Mokjong was the only son of King Gyeongjong; however, when his father died, he was too young to become king, so it was his uncle, prince Gaeryeong Wang Chi, who succeeded to the throne as King Seongjong.^[1] Mokjong eventually became king after his uncle's death in 997 and chose his mother, Queen Honae, as regent.^[1]

Mokjong is known for his reform of the Jeonsigwa (land-allotment system) as well as his various efforts to reorganize the military system and rebuild Pyongyang's castle to strengthen Goryeo's northern defenses early in his reign.^[2] He is also remembered for a plot by his mother, Queen Honae and her lover Kim Ch'i-yang to overthrow him.^[3] Queen Honae and Kim sought to replace Mokjong with their child, whom they had presented as a son of Mokjong's father, Gyeongjong of Goryeo, which Mokjong sought to prevent as it would have meant the end of the Wang Clan's rule over Goryeo.^[3]^[2] Further complicating the situation was Mokjong's homosexuality, which led to his lack of heirs, and his sexuality would be used as an excuse for his eventual overthrow.^[2] Mokjong called in General Kang to stop Queen Honae and Kim's coup, but in the process, Mokjong himself was dethroned by general Kang Cho on charges that he had neglected the defense of the country which was in imminent danger from an invasion by the Khitan Liao as well as allegations that his homosexuality was a "sickness" and was forcefully sent into exile in Chungju.^[4]^[2] However, he was slain before he arrived there.^[1]

Mokjong's tomb was known as Gongneung, but its present location is not known.

Family

Father: Gyeongjong of Goryeo (고려 경종, 955–981)
- Grandfather: Gwangjong of Goryeo (고려 광종, 925–975)
- Grandmother: Queen Daemok of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (대목왕후 황보씨)
Mother: Queen Heonae of the Hwangju Hwangbo clan (헌애왕후 황보씨)
- Grandfather: Daejong of Goryeo (고려 대종, d. 969)
- MGrandmother: Queen Seonui of the Chŏngju Yu clan (선의왕후 류씨)
Consorts and their respective Issue(s):

Queen Seonjeong of the Chungju Yu clan (선정왕후 유씨); maternal first cousin or paternal second cousin – No issue.
Palace Lady Yoseoktaek, of the Kim clan (요석택궁인 김씨) – No issue.

Mokjong is on record as having kept several wonchung ("male lovers") in their courts as “little-brother attendants” (chajewhi) who served as sexual partners.^[5]

In popular culture

Portrayed by Lee In in the 2009 KBS2 TV series Empress Cheonchu.
Portrayed by Baek Sung-hyun in the 2023 KBS2 TV series Korea–Khitan War.

Goryeo
Monarchs of Korea
Taejo 918–943 Hyejong 943–945 Jeongjong (定宗) 945–949 Gwangjong 949–975 Gyeongjong 975–981 Seongjong 981–997 Mokjong 997–1009 Hyeonjong 1009–1031 Deokjong 1031–1034 Jeongjong (靖宗) 1034–1046 Munjong 1046–1083 Sunjong 1083 Seonjong 1083–1094 Heonjong 1094–1095 Sukjong 1095–1105 Yejong 1105–1122 Injong 1122–1146 Uijong 1146–1170 Myeongjong 1170–1197 Sinjong 1197–1204 Huijong 1204–1211 Gangjong 1211–1213 Gojong 1213–1259 Wonjong 1259–1274 Chungnyeol 1274–1308 Chungseon 1308–1313 Chungsuk 1313–1330; 1332–1339 Chunghye 1330–1332; 1339–1344 Chungmok 1344–1348 Chungjeong 1348–1351 Gongmin 1351–1374 U 1374–1388 Chang 1388–1389 Gongyang 1389–1392
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References

^ ^a ^b ^c "목종[穆宗] - 비극적 결말에 가려진 12년의 치세". contents.history.go.kr (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-11-07.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d 김, 경순 (February 25, 2020). "고려 : 7대 목종, 게이의 슬픔". 수완뉴스. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ ^a ^b "[Why] [이한우의 역사속의 Why] 고려 목종을 폐립시킨 강조". Chosun Ilbo. January 31, 2009. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ Choe, Chong Dae (February 19, 2013). "Patriotism of Goryeo General Ha Gong-jin". Korea Times. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ Hyung-Ki Choi; et al. "South Korea (Taehan Min'guk)". International Encyclopedia of Sexuality. Continuum Publishing Company. Archived from the original on 2007-01-10. Retrieved 2007-01-01.

목종 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia.

Regnal titles
Mokjong of Goryeo House of Wang Born: 5 July 980 Died: 2 March 1009
Preceded by Seongjong	King of Goryeo 997–1009	Succeeded by Hyeonjong